Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that effective treatment and rehabilitation is a panacea to substance abuse in the country.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Marwa (rtd) said this during the inauguration of drug rehabilitation centre in Uyo on Friday.
Marwa, who was represented by the former military administrator of Akwa Ibom, Col. Yakubu Bako (rtd) said those who were already addicted must be treated and be reintegrated back to the society to contribute positively.
“Treatment and rehabilitation are part of the panacea to the substance abuse problem bedevilling the contemporary society.
“We can arrest a thousand and one traffickers every month but substance war will be in vain if we fail to apply professionalism in treatment and rehabilitation.
“For any country to make any headway in reducing abuse to the barest minimum, there must be a remarkable impact in drug demand reduction,” Marwa said.
The chairman and chief executive said there are only 24 government-run rehabilitation centres in the country and commended Mrs Martha Emmanuel, wife of Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel for donating the centre to NDLEA.
Earlier in her remarks, the State Commander of NDLEA, Mrs Obot Bassey, said that the Command in 2022 carried out sensitisation activities in 77 locations in the state to create awareness on the dangers of drug abuse.
Bassey said the rehabilitation centre was donated by governor’s wife through her pet project, Family Empowerment and Youth Re-orientation Initiative (FEYReP) for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts in the state.
She said in 2022, the command counselled 265 person who used drugs, rehabilitated 12 with substance use disorder, seized 460.344kg of assorted drugs and arrested 348 suspects and secured 58 convictions in the state.
She commended the Akwa Ibom Governor, the wife, who is an Ambassador, War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) for her contribution to the success drug reduction in the state.
In her remarks, Mrs Martha Emmanuel appealed to parents to nurture their children and wards to avoid involvement in substance abuse.
Emmanuel decried the rate of young people, especially school children, who had been involved in substance abuse.
“I want to appeal to parents, please if you are taking this substance do not involve your children. Allow these young ones to grow and become better citizens of tomorrow. That’s what we want.
“And for our children, young boys in particular, this substance will do you no good, avoid this substance because of the consequences of taking this substance. Those who took it, could not go further in life.
“The substance will make you to become useless in the society, rapist, armed robbers, trouble makers, gamblers and other social vices.
“By the grace of God, this centre has been put up to rehabilitate people, people that need help.
“If you know that you need helps, come here and meet with the Commander, they will offer you that help. This centre will bring succour, will bring an end for illicit drug users,” Emmanuel said.